Advertisement

NFL RedZone companion, week 17: Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Titans, Eagles and Vikings fight over final three playoff spots

Jordan Wilkins dives into the end zone during the Colts' defeat of the Texans earlier this season - Getty Images North America
Jordan Wilkins dives into the end zone during the Colts' defeat of the Texans earlier this season - Getty Images North America

So this is it then. On Sunday night we'll wave goodbye to 20 NFL teams until next September. Some we won't be too sad to see go (I'm looking at you, Cardinals, Jaguars and Raiders), others will be left to reflect on what could have been as they sit down to watch the final 12 battle it out on telly - just like us regular schmucks.

Week 17 is always an odd one - it's why most fantasy leagues end their season after week 16. Teams who have booked their paths through January or who already have eyes on next April's draft rest their stars, but for six franchises, Sunday's games are a matter of life and death.

The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are all still in the hunt for January football, but there are just three places remaining. One of the Ravens or Steelers will definitely be going home. So will one of the Colts and Titans, whose Sunday Night Football clash is so massive I can't help but preview it here, even though it won't be shown on NFL RedZone. Cheating, I know. In the NFC, the Vikings will qualify if they beat the Bears, but the Eagles are ready and waiting to swoop on any mistake.

Let's do this then, one last time. Here's everything you need to look out for in the NFL this week. See you on the other side.

Five games to dial on on

Can the Browns spoil old foe Ravens' season?

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second half of an NFL football game - Credit: AP
The Browns beat the Ravens 12-9 in overtime when they met in Cleveland in October Credit: AP

Not everyone knows that the Baltimore Ravens used to be the Cleveland Browns. Back in 1995 owner Art Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore, which obviously didn't go down well in Cleveland. In the end the city was able to keep the rights to the Browns name and the team's history, with the players being moved over to Maryland to start a brand new franchise called the Ravens. The Browns reformed in 1999 with a severe axe to grind, but the Ravens have crushed them again and again. On Sunday, Cleveland have a chance to dish out the ultimate revenge.

If the Browns can turn over the Ravens in Baltimore and the Steelers beat the Bengals in Pittsburgh then Baltimore will have been denied a playoff berth by a division rival on the final day of the regular season for the second straight year - remember how Andy Dalton sent Bills fans wild 12 months ago? As well as the Browns are playing right now, and as determined as they'll be to end with a winning record by spoiling the Ravens' party, it feels like a tough ask.

The Ravens have won five of six with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, including last week's dominant showing against the Chargers. Baltimore's front seven made Philip Rivers look his age for the first time this season, sacking him three times, forcing two picks and generally throwing him off his game. He looked scared out there. Baker Mayfield has been outstanding this year, especially since Hue Jackson was booted off to Cincinnati, but on Sunday he'll face his greatest test yet. Can he make this the defining moment of his young career?

Steelers to take care of business against the Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium - Credit: USA TODAY
Pittsburgh's defeat of the Bengals sent them into a tailspin in October Credit: USA TODAY

If the Browns do pull off the unthinkable the Steelers are lying in wait, ready to seize upon any mistake and steal back the AFC North. Unless the Colts and Titans tie later in the night winning the division is the only path into the playoffs for both the Ravens and Steelers, so if Baltimore win Pittsburgh are dead. They're just going to have to focus on their own business and put away the hapless Bengals at home. If they mess this one up they don't deserve to be playing in the postseason.

The Steelers were excellent for the vast majority of last week's defeat in New Orleans, only to be undone by a stupid and failed fake punt attempt from inside their own half which resulted in Michael Thomas' go-ahead touchdown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster's fumble to ice the game on the following drive. If the Steelers do miss the playoffs much of that will be on Mike Tomlin's head - he made a similarly poor decision to keep Josh Dobbs in the game longer than required against the Raiders, and we all remember how that one ended.

If Ben Roethisberger and Antonio Brown play anything like they did last Sunday this week's game will be an annihilation. Cincinnati's defense doesn't have a hope of stopping them. That's the thing with Pittsburgh, at their best they look good enough to make the Super Bowl, but they've probably already squandered their chance to have a shot at it.

Vikings look to ransack distracted Bears

Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) pursuing Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago. The Vikings need to beat division champion Chicago this weekend to ensure their place in the playoffs, putting the pressure on Cousins to prove his worth as the franchise quarterback - Credit: AP
Kirk Cousins tries to escape Akiem Hicks during the Vikings' defeat to the Bears earlier in the season Credit: AP

Bears head coach Matt Nagy says the Bears will only consider pulling their starters from the game if the Rams are way up on the 49ers at half-time, and dreams of pipping them to a playoff bye are dead. Still, that's enough of a distraction to give Vikings fans hope their team could pull off an upset in Chicago and nail down the sixth seed in the NFC. Anything less than a win and they're probably out.

The Bears don't look like a good match-up for Minnesota. They have one of the most dominant defensive lines in football, and the Vikings' O-line has been a weakness all season. Kirk Cousins hasn't looked good under pressure, and the running game has only got going in the last couple of weeks after the coordinator change and games against the Dolphins and Lions - two of the worst run defenses in the league. Only the Saints are giving up fewer yards on the ground than Chicago, and I don't trust Cousins to carve up this turnover happy secondary through the air.

It doesn't sound positive, but the good news is this: if the Vikes do manage to pull this off then they go into the playoffs on a high, clutching the scalp of one of the NFL's strongest outfits. Right now they have the air of a one-and-done type of team, but we all know how important momentum is in sport. If Minnesota find themselves a few points down in the fourth quarter we're going to be in for one hell of a finish.

Can Nick Foles pull off another miracle for Philly?

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) reacts with the fans during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field - Credit: USA TODAY
Nick Foles has beaten the Rams and Texans, one more win could put the Eagles in the playoffs Credit: USA TODAY

Just as the Steelers are praying for a Ravens slip-up, their fellow Pennsylvanians are hoping to swoop in and nab the sixth seed from the Vikings if they falter in Chicago. The Eagles have a far easier task - a trip to Washington to face Josh Johnson and the Redskins.

Since coming in for the injured Carson Wentz Nick Foles has upset the Rams and the Texans, and given us all deja vu in the process. He couldn't do it again, could he? Surely not? The Eagles have looked more dangerous with Foles back in the team. The 62 points they've put up in the last two weeks is the most they've scored in any two-game period all season, and against the Texans Foles broke the franchise record for passing yards in a single game (35 of 49 for 471, four touchdowns and an interception). Foles' more gung-ho style of play has led to Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor having a more fruitful time out wide. This gives Philly a much-needed deep threat, and takes some of the load off Zach Ertz in the passing game.

The Redskins are a league-average pass defense, and I expect Foles to be able to outscore Johnson without too much trouble. Adrian Peterson may be able to hurt them on the ground, but that depends on how much juice the 33-year-old has left in the tank at the end of a long season. He had 26 carries for 119 yards against the Titans last week, which suggests he isn't done quite yet. Still, I have a feeling Foles is going to be held aloft on the field once again come Sunday night, and the Eagles will have a shot at defending their title.

An early playoff game for the Colts and Titans

Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after wide receiver Dontrelle Inman #15 scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans  - Credit: Getty
Dontrelle Inman scores a touchdown in the Colts' win over the Titans last month Credit: Getty

This is the game of the week. The Colts travel to Nashville with everything on the line. Winner takes all, loser goes home - it's the playoffs, just a week earlier than scheduled.

The big story ahead of the game is the state of Marcus Mariota, who is struggling with neck and foot injuries but did return to practice on Thursday. Mariota's tough, and you'd expect him to at least attempt to start such a massive game, but the Titans may look to hide their quarterback as much as possible, and put the ball in the hands of Derrick Henry. Henry has enjoyed his three best games of the season over the last three weeks, rushing for an incredible 492 yards and seven touchdowns against the Jaguars, Giants and Redskins. The Colts' run defense is eighth in the NFL, much better than all of those teams. Here's where you earn your keep, Derrick.

The other key for Tennessee will be whether they can get the beating of Indianapolis' offensive line and put pressure on Andrew Luck. Luck has been sacked just 17 times all season, and been blessed with time to dance around in the pocket and pick defenses apart. That's when Luck is at his best. His standard has been so high this season that he's found success with very little firepower in the receiving game outside of TY Hilton, who's been immense down the stretch, and Eric Ebron, who's been a touchdown machine. 

I fancy the Colts to get it done here. Their comeback against the Giants last week shows they can perform under pressure, while the Titans are the most unpredictable team in the league. You never know which version you're going to get. They tend to raise their game for the big occasion, so whatever the result, I think we're on for a thriller that will take us deep into the night.

Five players to keep an eye on

Teddy Bridgewater (QB, New Orleans Saints)

The Saints have already sealed home field advantage through the playoffs, which means Drew Brees in unlikely to play much against the Panthers, if at all. Teddy Bridgewater should take the brunt of the snaps, giving us our first proper look at him in a regular season game since he went down with that horrific knee injury more than two years ago.

Bridgewater is a free agent at the end of the season, and if he puts on a show here there are plenty of teams who could be lining up for her services in the offseason. I'm thinking the Giants, the Jaguars, the Redskins and the Broncos, to name a few. Go get paid, Teddy.

CJ Anderson (RB, Los Angeles Rams)

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) falls into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game - Credit: AP
CJ Anderson put in a huge performance against the Cardinals last week Credit: AP

Todd Gurley hasn't trained again this week. Sean McVay says there's a chance Gurley will play against the 49ers without taking the practice field, but that feels very unlikely against weak opposition and with the playoffs looming.

This means another opportunity for Anderson, who went off for 167 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals last week, just five days after signing in LA. Anderson has barely played all year, so will be fresh, and is a genuinely good back with a lot of value between the tackles. He could be extremely useful to the Rams through January.

Aaron Donald (DT, Los Angeles Rams)

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates a second half sack against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium - Credit: USA TODAY
Aaron Donald celebrates one of his three sacks against the Cardinals Credit: USA TODAY

Another Ram, but I had to include Donald purely because he's just half a sack away from a landmark 20 for the season, and three off Michael Strahan's record of 22.5 he set in 2001 for the New York Giants. He had three against the Cardinals last week, so I wouldn't put it past him.

Despite being loaded on offense, Donald has been the Rams' MVP this season. He's the biggest difference-maker on the roster and the only truly irreplaceable member of their team. Breaking Strahan's record as an interior lineman would be a stunning achievement.

Rob Gronkowski (TE, New England Patriots)

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in an NFL football game, in Pittsburgh. The New England tight end has dominated the Steelers throughout his career, no matter how Pittsburgh opts to defend him - Credit: AP
This could be Gronk's last regular season game in the NFL Credit: AP

Gronk hasn't looked himself this season, and there's every chance this is his final regular season game in the National Football League. In fact, I'd be a little surprised if he didn't hang his boots up once the Patriots' season is done.

The surefire Hall of Famer has terrorised the Jets for years - fans in New Jersey will be glad to see the back of him - so don't be surprised to see him say goodbye with a bang.

Brian Hill (RB, Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons' Brian Hill (32) tries to hurdle Carolina Panthers' Donte Jackson (26) during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte - Credit: AP
Brian Hill tries to hurdle Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson in Atlanta's win last Sunday Credit: AP

Tevin Coleman looks likely to miss what would have probably been his final game as a Falcon with injury, which leaves Brian Hill as the feature back for the Falcons in Tampa Bay.

Hill could be a useful RB3 if your fantasy league stretches into week 17, and if he plays well here it'll be easier for Atlanta to part with Coleman in the offseason. Hill and Ito Smith would be perfectly capable back-ups to Devonta Freeman once's he's back from injury next year.

Predictions

Saints beat Panthers, Patriots beat Jets, Bills beat Dolphins, Texans beat Jaguars, Packers beat Lions, Buccaneers beat Falcons, Cowboys beat Giants, Steelers beat Bengals, Bears beat Vikings, Chiefs beat Raiders, Seahawks beat Cardinals, Eagles beat Redskins, Ravens beat Browns, Chargers beat Broncos, Rams beat 49ers, Colts beat Titans.